“Ah, I get it. She’s just passin’ through town and you two hooked up. Now you don’t wanna let her go, huh?”
“Somethin’ like that.”
They’d never really talked about her future plans. When he offered her the job looking after Drew for the summer, he just assumed a couple of months would be more than enough time for them to re-connect. But he never considered the possibility that he’d after they’d reconnected… she’d still leave him.
“So, what’re you gonna do?”
“I wish I knew, man.” It felt like a no-win situation. He loved the girl. Could give her anything she wanted, except for a job doing the one thing she loved most.
“You could propose.” He grinned. “That might keep her here.” He held up his index finger, circling it to indicate the shop. “Especially if she knew what she’d be givin’ up if she said no.”
“Harper doesn’t care about money.” She was probably the first and last girl he’d dated who didn’t. “She just wants…” To do what she loves for a living. And how the hell could he be mad at her for that? He swiped a hand over his face, wishing he could find the answer. “She’s a teacher, Vlad. She just wants to teach.”
“Oh yeah? What grade?”
“First.”
Vlad smirked. “Good with kids, huh? Bet she’d be a great mom, buddy. Maybe all you need to do to keep her here is knock her up.”
Deke thought about last night. He hadn’t used a condom she hadn’t wanted him to pull out. That must mean she was on the pill. No way would she have risked getting pregnant when she was on the hunt for a new job. A baby would throw a wrench in all her plans. But it sure as hell would make him happy. A baby with Harper. God. That would be… the answer to his prayers.
“Tell me what you’re thinkin,” Vlad said, grinning. He pointed at Deke. “You’re considering it, aren’t you?”
“Don’t be an asshole.”
He scowled, mainly because his friend reminded him how much he wanted a family with the love of his life. “Weren’t you listening to me? The girl has a career that matters to her. And she’s not gonna get a job in this…” He thought of ripping on their hometown, but he couldn’t. He loved this place, and knew Harper did too. Too bad it still wasn’t big enough for her dreams.
“Hey, Deke,” Vlad said, looking serious. “If you need to re-locate, you know I could hold down the fort here, take care of the shop for you. Your brother’s coming back soon, right? Maybe you could hire him, part-time, to manage your rental units? Bet your girl could find work in Denver, and you could open another shop there.”
Denver? Deke had never considered re-locating. He loved Carlton, and loved that he was a big part of the reason their little community was still thriving, but what the hell would life be like for him here once Harper left?
“I’ll think about it, man.” He slapped his friend on the back. “Thanks.”
Chapter Twelve
Harper met Jude for a drink the night before they were heading out of town for the ball game with Drew. Things with Deke had been tense since she mentioned her job situation, and she needed to bend her friend’s ear about it.
“So?” Jude said, grinning. “How’re things going with Deke?”
They’d talked on the phone and texted a few times, so Jude knew they’d already bypassed the friend zone. “It was good until I told him I was still looking for a job.” She sighed before taking a deep pull of her vodka and soda. “I mean, what did he expect? Just because he has more money than he knows what to do with doesn’t mean we all do. I have to work.” She shook her head. “I want to work. I love it, you know that.”
Jude nodded. “Of course you do. Besides, what would you do if you didn’t work, right?” She smiled. “I know I gripe about the salon, but I’d go nuts without it.”
Just like Deke would probably go crazy without his tattoo shop. So why couldn’t he understand where she was coming from? She suspected he could, but didn’t want to accept their fate was tied to her job.
“So, what are you gonna do?” Jude asked, eyeing her friend over the rim of her glass. “I know this gig looking after Drew is just temporary.”
“It is. I knew that when I took it.” She sighed. “I just needed to make some money, and Deke’s offer was too good to pass up, which I’m sure was the point.”
Jude grinned. “The man’s not stupid. He knew if you guys were spending time together it would only be a matter of time before you hit the sheets again.”
“Or the floor.” Harper laughed when her friend’s mouth dropped. “We didn’t exactly make it to the bed.”
“Eeee!” Jude stomped her feet on the floor, seizing Harper’s wrist. “Ohmigod! You slept with him? You have to tell me everything. Don’t leave out a single thing. Was he better than you remember? Worse? Was it a quickie… or more? Where was Drew?”
Harper threw her hand up, trying to contain her laughter. “Would you take a breath, girl? To answer your question, it was a-mazing. But of course it was, right?” She rolled her eyes. “This is Deke we’re talking about. The man doesn’t have a selfish bone in his body when it comes to s-e-x.”
Jude sighed, a contented smile spreading across her face. “How awesome is it to have a selfless lover for a change? We really hit the jackpot this time, didn’t we?”
